This doesn't
fit the mood of the original story, and so I attached it seperately.

"Move over! I can't
see!"

"There's nothing to
see yet anyway."

"Then move over
stupid!"

"Would you two shut
up? You're so annoying!"

"Well, when are we
going to see something?!"

Hestia sighed
patiently. "You won't be able to see anything," she explained
for the third time, "the connection will only allow me to see what
they are doing, and I can report it back to you. Everyone sit in a
circle so that no one is pushing or smiting please."

Obediently but
grudgingly the other gods sat down. Hestia closed her eyes and began
stoking up the fire. Soon the pleasant little villa became an oven
and if the gods could sweat, they would have been drenched. Still
Hestia added wood and fanned the flames. Finally she sat still,
eyelids twitching as if she were in a dream. A strange half-smile
crossed her face, as if she were watching something nostalgic.

"My how things have
changed."

All at once the
immortals inhaled nervously. How much had changed? For the Olympians,
change was something for the mortals; it didn't concern them. To
hear the word was a harsh reminder that their beloved apprentices
were once again human and in their own time on Earth. For a moment
everyone was silent. Then Hera spoke up, her voice quivering
slightly.

"What has happened?"

Hestia twitched
slightly, trying to pinpoint everyone on Earth. "For one thing,
they've gotten older," she began unsteadily, "I believe a year
or so has gone by since they visited us. Almost all of them are at an
age where they are considered 'adults'."

Everyone glanced
around, slightly relieved. They could deal with change like that. But
Hestia was far from done.

"Is that it?" Zeus
chimed in, "Is everyone where we left them?"

The Olympians waited
with anticipation for Hestia's sobering answer.

"No they are not.
Many have moved away, or moved on. It is a time of radical and
frightening changes. I know they are all scattered in places called
colleges. It is very much like our schools of higher learning, though
these colleges are scattered as far as the eye can see. Most are
clumping around each other, though one is going on her own to a
college without the others."

"Your students seem
to be the hardest to find. Sonomi is across the world, living back in
her home country of Japan. Many still think of her, but few take the
time to write anymore. Aubrey has all but disappeared from the lives
of many. I am sorry."

Athena nodded and bit
her quivering lip. Zeus laid a comforting hand on her shoulder as
other immortals stepped forward to hear news of their goddesses.
Artemis and Hera were surprised that Megan had a boyfriend for a
while, but proud of her for taking the chance while Hermes hoped
Katie would feel better about this college thing. "She's a good
person, no matter what she thinks." he murmured. Meanwhile, he and
Dionysus were saddened to hear of Liz's panic attacks and hoped she
would realize that she was a so much better of a person than she gave
herself credit for. Ares was slightly stricken that Colleen had
stopped being quite so "mneih" and eepish, but Dionysus was
delighted when he heard about her smiling. Aphrodite was surprised at
Lauren's slight seclusion but smiled when she saw how happy the
girl had become. Everyone cheered for Marjorie, murmured at Becca's
summer escapades, awwwed when they heard of Sarah's relationship
and off course laughed at Jason's seemingly placid views. But when
Apollo asked about his apprentice, Hestia gave a frown.

"I can't find her"

Apollo's eyed
widened. "You mean she's…"

But Hestia shook her
head. "Nicole is still alive, but her power don't seem to be
working. The goddess of happiness is gone."

Apollo's shoulders
sagged visibly, but he stood stoically as Hestia continued her
report.

"There has been much
pain and anger between many. I know a few are not really speaking to
each other, and even they are not sure why. Others are hurt because
their efforts were in vain and they couldn't help as much as they
wanted. Still others are ignorant of the pain they caused. There was
heartbreak, realizations and a prize that has long been forgotten
about. It seems our little apprentices have grown up quite a bit.
Many have found a relationship since they have left here-Colleen,
Nicole, Liz and Sarah. A few feel that they are in love."

Here Aphrodite let out
a smug cough. Dionysus, Apollo, Hephaestus and Morpheus nodded, all
happy for their former-girlfriends, though Ares looked obviously
pleased that his was still single. Hestia gave a small chuckle.

"Yes it's true. If
you saw them today you may not recognize some of them. I can't even
fathom some of these transformations. Some are good, some are bad,
but they are very interesting. It will be interesting to see what the
future holds for all of these mortals. And to be honest, I cannot be
sure if they will all speak together again as they once did."

The Olympians were
silent, thinking wistfully of the past and sadly about the future.
Then Artemis spoke up, her full voice faint with sadness.

"So it's all over?
Nothing's the same anymore."

Hestia smiled and once
again shook her head. "That is not true. There are so many things
that haven't changed. They've all managed to get through one
trying time or another. Many are still friends. But friendship
changes. Sometimes it get stronger, sometimes it gets weaker. But it
always leaves a lasting imprint on one's being. Friendship can be
toxic or it can be medicinal. But it has an impact in any form.
Either way it was once there between all of our lovely immortals and
that is something they cannot forget, no matter how far away they
travel, physically and mentally."

With that Hestia gave a
quick flick of the wrist. The fire died down to a small pile of
embers. As the immortals shuffled out, Ares exchanged a sad glance at
Dionysus; neither of them looked convinced.

"So there are no
happy endings, are there?"

Hestia hesitated, and
then gave the gods a pat on the cheek. "There may be or may not be
happy endings for all of them. But this is not the ending, and so I
cannot say. Only the Fates can truly see what lies ahead. What I do
know is that they are all truly starting their lives, for better or
for worse. Hopefully we have taught them something. Even if fate
flings them across the seven seas and there are no reunions, they can
always look back on their weeks with us as a time without minutes,
where they all were goddesses and they were all friends."

With that the immortals
went back to their daily duties as the smoldering remains of the fire
died down to thirteen glowing embers, and finally went out.

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